BUSINESS QUESTION – HOMELAND SECURITY
– 27 March 2003

Dr Julian Lewis: While I sympathise with the difficulties of the Government in conducting a full-scale reshuffle of Cabinet and other ministerial posts while a war is going on, may I nevertheless remind the hon. Gentleman [Ben Bradshaw] that one post is directly relevant to the war, as my right hon. Friend the Shadow Leader of the House pointed out: the Minister with responsibilities for homeland security? The Opposition wanted a separate Department for Homeland Security, as this country is at risk of terrorism. Surely that appointment can be made now, without waiting for a full-scale reshuffle, even if one accepts the reasoning that the Acting Leader of the House has put forward.